He began his managerial career at AC Milan in the early nineties where he led a squad crammed with talent to the Scudetto four times in five seasons. After Milan, Capello went on to taste success with other continental giants such as Juventus, Roma and Real Madrid.

And Capello’s impact on the England team after taking over from Steve McLaren was immediate. He stamped his authority by introducing more intensive training and a number of new rules aimed at improving team spirit and making the squad more focused on winning. This new mentality was evident in England’s World Cup qualifying campaign. The team won all but one of their ten matches, scoring 34 goals.

A strict disciplinarian and astute tactician, who is highly respected by his players, there are obvious parallels between Fabio Capello and England’s most successful manager, Alf Ramsey. Like England’s current boss, Ramsey thought the team was more important than the individual and refused to brook the notion of some players enjoying a special status. On a 1964 tour of Brazil, a number of England’s players failed to stick to an agreed curfew, returning to their rooms to find their passports waiting for them on the beds.

Like Ramsey, Bobby Robson made his name at Ipswich. Yet Bobby Robson was a different sort of manager to Ramsey and Capello. He enjoyed success at some of Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona and Porto, motivating his players with his infectious enthusiasm for the game he loved. Robson led England to two World Cup Finals, and at Italia ’90 helped the Three Lions to one of their most successful tournaments since the triumph of 1966.

With the experience of Steven Gerrard on the pitch and Capello off it, the England side look well-placed to emulate the success of Robson and Ramseu in South Africa.

’86 England v Poland, 3-0

After losing their opening match against Portugal 1-0, the Three Lions played out a goalless draw against Morocco with captain Bryan Robson picking up a tournament-ending injury and Ray Wilkins receiving a red card. They went into the final group game with Poland in need of a result and, having failed to score against Portugal and Morocco, it looked as though Bobby Robson might drop Everton striker Gary Lineker. But Bobby Robson stuck to his guns and kept faith with Lineker, who duly tore Poland apart with a devastating hat-trick. The striker’s third after just 34 exhilarating minutes sent England’s fans into raptures in Monterrey.

’66 England v W Germany, 4-2

Famous for Kenneth Wolstenholme’s oft-quoted commentary, Tofik Bakhramov’s hotly debated decision to award Hurst’s second goal and, of course, the iconic image of Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy, the final in 1966 certainly lived up to its billing. Alf Ramsey’s team fought back from an early goal and were leading 2-1 when the West Germans equalised in the dying minutes.  Cue extra-time and ‘that goal’. Having lost his marker with a neat turn, Geoff Hurst’s shot from the edge of the six-yard box bounced off the underside of the bar and was adjudged to have crossed the line. The West Ham striker went on to complete his hat-trick, sealing the Three Lions’ first ever World Cup triumph.

’54 England v Belgium, 4-4

The ’54 tournament in Switzerland remains the highest-scoring World Cup, with 140 goals scored in 26 matches. Famously, in the group stages West Germany were soundly beaten 8-3 by Hungary’s ‘Golden Team’ that boasted the prolific Sandor Kocsis and the great Ferenc Puskas, only to then go on to defeat the Hungarians 3-2 in the final. The Three Lions were left stunned when Belgium came back to draw after Nat Lofthouse and Ivor Broadis had helped England to an ostensibly unassailable 3-1 lead. An own goal from Portsmouth defender Jimmy Dickinson in the dying minutes levelled the scores at 4-4. This encounter with Belgium was just one of numerous memorable encounters in this World Cup that has gone down in history for its remarkable scorelines and great comebacks.

Charlton went to three World Cups in the course of a glittering international career and will always be remembered for his contribution to England’s 1966 triumph. He made 106 appearances for England, scoring a record 49 goals. When Gary Lineker ended his career one short of Charlton’s record, he modestly said the great United midfielder was the better player and deserved to keep the record. Charlton scored three goals in England’s 1966 campaign, including a brace against a much-fancied Portugal in the semi-finals.

The ability to score goals from midfield is a defining characteristic of Charlton’s career. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard boasts a remarkable record at club level. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. Lampard came into his own at international level during Euro 2004, with goals against France, Croatia and Portugal.

Steven Gerrard is another player who has a habit of scoring great goals. Gerrard’s long-range strike against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago was a mirror image of the dozens of similar goals he has scored for Liverpool. Like Charlton and Lampard, the Reds midfielder can punish sides who allow him the luxury of time and space outside the box.

With 27 goals in all competitions, double-winner Lampard has again been in prolific form this season. Whereas Lampard will travel to South Africa looking to continue his club form, Gerrard will doubtless see the World Cup as a potential silver lining to a relatively gloomy season at Anfield.

Pundits often put the case for the importance of goals from midfield. England fans will look to Gerrard and Lampard to weigh in with some more goals to propel England to success in South Africa.

The Premier League is without doubt the best league for drama, passion and excitement in Europe. Just comparing it with the Italian Serie A and you see that the two leagues are a million miles apart, unless you enjoy watching boring defence minded and extremely one paced football – or unless you are an Italian!

I am not a footballer myself and I am not involved within the media; the following players are just my personal opinion as to the players that I believe merit being in the top four. I am in fact a person who provides pet insurance; I am also involved with other projects that include selling a quality upvc front door and working helping people to attain cheap flyer printing.

Going back to my top four – the numero uno player has to be Mr Liverpool himself, Steven Gerrard. He is a top class football player. Some would argue that he has never really “done it” for England however I am sure he will put that right in next years World Cup. Steven is certainly a real captain marvel; driving his team forward with a real passion. He is a scouser through and through who always gives one hundred percent.

In second spot I would have to pick John Terry. He is a born winner and is also a natural leader. As well as being a dominant central defender who is an excellent reader of the game he also chips in with a few goals.

In third place I have Frank Lampard. This midfield dynamo just seems to get better and better. He is the model professional who like Steven Gerrard scores a great number of goals from midfield. I personally would play Frank in the centre of midfield for England with Gerrard “in the hole”, real football fans will understand what I mean by this.

Then there is the fourth place position and this may be slightly controversial as I have chosen Ashley Cole. I really do not want to pick Ashley as he annoys the hell out of me with his petulant behaviour. He is however an excellent player and his FA Cup final performance in the win against Everton (for Chelsea) was quite outstanding.

Well there we have it – my top four – what do you think?

I am not involved within professional football; I personally work selling external doors; I also offer a cheap mobile calls service and sell cheap hotel deals.

England have beaten Croatia in their own back yard, four goals to one. They played quite superbly and taught their opponents a lesson in football. The Croatian team have been somewhat of a bogey team for England and it sure felt good to lay that ghost to rest with a comprehensive four - one win.

Capello is getting the best out of the team at the moment with the majority of the players plying their trade in the Premier League which is probably the most competitive league in the world. For some reason previous England teams played a rather slow continental type game, why? It really makes no sense at all. The manager is now playing a pressing game and has the players laying their lives, as the saying goes, on the line for the team.

The English press and supporters have been very critical of the team over the last few years, quite rightly so as they have not been playing anywhere to the levels that they should be. The team were accused of lacking bottle, lacking character and lacking in spirit. This was just not acceptable and hopefully has changed for good.

If somehow the team are able to win the world cup the players will become instant heroes, heroes for life. Go for it England - believe in yourselves and bring the trophy home for our wonderful country.

Players like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Theo Walcott and Ashley Young will be the catalyst to victory in South Africa, I am convinced about it.

Mention great sports rivalries and several could come to mind.There was Muhammad Ali duking it out with Joe Frazier, Greg Norman taking on Nick Faldo on the golf course and Chris Evert battling Martina Navratilova on the tennis court.There’s still a healthy rivalry in cricket between India and Pakistan.Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov have even made competitive chess seem exciting with their ongoing rivalry through the years.

But can any of these admittedly classic face-offs hold a candle to the colossal confrontation that occurs whenever the Red Devils of Manchester United clash with the Liverpool Reds?Let’s have a quick look at why this great football rivalry exists, and why it continues

1. The Northwest Derby – Matchups between the two clubs are often referred to using this moniker.There’s been quite a rivalry between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester ever since industrial times, and that sense of competition is certainly not lacking in the football world.

2. “The Greatest English Football Club” – Manchester United and Liverpool both lay claim to the title of The Greatest English Football Club.  A similar number of trophies have been won by each club, and they are also the two most successful English teams in European competition.

3. Fans and Money – The two clubs are widely-supported throughout the world and boast some of the most devoted fans in any sport.Also, they are two of the biggest-earning clubs in the world.

4.  Player Haters – As with a lot of football clubs, the fans can be downright hostile to each other sometimes.  With Liverpool and Man U, though, the hostility spills over to the players too occasionally.  United striker Wayne Rooney has publicly stated how he grew up hating Liverpool.Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, on the other hand, once told a television crew that even though he exchanges shirts regularly with opposing players, he would never have a Man U shirt in his house.

5. Transfers? Are You Kidding Me? – No player has been directly transferred between the two clubs since 1964; the few footballers who have played for both clubs always played in a different city in between. As recently as 2007, United left-back Gabriel Heinze expressed a desire to move to Liverpool, and a bid was made, but Man U rejected the bid and stated that Heinze would only join a foreign club if he chose to leave – all due to the age old rivalry.

The way these clubs are so passionate about their long-standing rivalry is inspiring, in a way.Some people out there, though, must think the whole concept of these sporting grudges is a waste of time.So, which side is obviously the best club in football?  That’s easy.  Everyone knows it’s Spurs.

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